Design and Construction of a Thermophotovoltaic Energy Conversion System Using Combustion Gases from a T-58 Gas Turbine

摘要

An ongoing project at the U.S. Naval Academy involves the development of a prototype ThermoPhotovoltaic (TPV) generator that uses a General Electric T-58 gas turbine as the heat source. The combustion gas was tapped from the T- 58's combustor through an ignitor port and then extracted through a silicon carbide composite tube into a ceramic emitter. The emitter was also made from the same silicon carbide composite. The TPV generator was designed to ease removal of the emitter so different materials could be tested at a later date. The ceramic emitter is heated by the combustion gas via convection, and then serves the TPV generator by radiating the heat outwards where it can be absorbed by thermophotovoltaic cells and converted directly into electricity. This paper details the design and construction of the TPV generator and gives results of initial tests of the gas turbine.